Assessing a Cockerel’s Temperament with Children

Keeping chickens is generally a low risk hobby but at some point you may decide to get a cockerel and if you have children, I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to assess his temperament. Just like you wouldn't risk a dangerous dog with a child, you must ensure the cockerel you select is suitable to have around, remember, cockerels can jump a few feet off the ground, kicking out with their feet and spurs as well as delivering a very nasty peck.

Continual Assessment

Every cockerel I keep is being continually assessed. Since I have young children visiting my birds regularly, I cannot take any risks. I have put together the following pointers to help you to assess a cockerel. Some of these things can be done before you take a bird home but the assessment is a continuous process. You will often be buying a very young bird who isn't yet mature and temperaments also change during the breeding season.

1. Parent Stock

The most important factor if you are buying or have hatched a young cockerel is to try to get an idea of the temperament of the adult stock. If you are buying from a breeder, ask as many questions as you can. For example "Can we have a look at the father of this cockerel as he will end up looking like him won't he?" "Is it safe for me to go into the run with him to have a closer look?" and the crucial "Is he friendly with Children?" It is unlikely a breeder will see any harm in you asking a direct question about his parent stock but isn't likely to tell you the young cockerel you are buying now will grow up into a great scrapper. After all who is to know, this young, vulnerable bird hasn't caused any harm and it is always difficult to re-home cockerels.

Do not be fooled by the size of a cock bird, I have had a small Pekin Bantam who left me with some nasty cuts to my leg and a huge Buff Orpington cockerel who I would take to my local school and enjoyed being picked up and hand fed by the children.

3. Breed

Just like different dog breeds have different temperaments, different breeds of chickens have different temperaments. See The temperaments of different breeds of chickens for more information. Remember different strains within a breed can have different temperaments. I have had two different strains of Light Sussex for example and the cock birds were at opposite ends of the scale in terms of temperament.

4. Behaviour

I usually imagine the aggressive behaviour of a cockerel as a ladder. Full blown kicking and fighting is at the top and ignoring you is at the bottom. How far up this ladder a bird will go will depend on the stimulus and the temperament of a bird. Every bird has the ability to cause damage which is why children should be supervised at all times. A child can do things that we might not expect which could cause a bird to go higher up the ladder than normal adult behaviour would.

Here is my imaginary ladder of aggression (Top = Most Aggression):

• Pecking, jumping up and kicking out with feet / spurs. Cock fighting.
• Squaring up to opponent, standing ground, ready to fight, sometimes hackles (neck feathers) are raised.
• Treading / kicking feet on the ground, becoming vocal, wings sometimes dropped to look bigger from the side.
• Running over to you - Especially if a hen is picked up and is distressed or chasing you out of the run.
• Observing you, clucking, alert to your presence.
• Ignoring you. Nothing other than general interest in food.

Assessment

When you go into the run / enclosure, watch how the cockerel behaves and how far he will go up the ladder of aggression. Picking up a hen in the run and going down on your knees to his level is a great test. Yes, he will be concerned and this sort of behaviour should be expected, if he is doing his job looking after the hens, he will be concerned about her and will probably come over and be vocal. He will often tread his feet quickly on the ground around her when she is put down to calm her down.

Sometimes cockerels will run over to you (you are usually the source of food after all). This sort of behaviour is quite normal however chasing you out of the run after food has been left on the ground should be seen as an aggressive act. A cockerel who chases after you like this is more likely to kick out than a bird that goes back to his hens to show them the food or skirts around you, scared to come any closer.

Often once picked up, an aggressive bird will become placid so it is always better to pick up a hen with the cockerel running free to get an idea of his temperament.

Still unsure? It's best not to take any chances. You could keep hens on their own or have you thought about keeping ducks?

Finally

This article has been provided in good faith and advice is presented ‘as is'. We cannot accept any liability for actions that may or may not occur as a result of you following this advice.

Remember - children should never be left unsupervised with a cockerel.